Devotional Christian

EQUIPPED TO DO GOD’S WILL

Hariette Petersen — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:22:21 +0000

I have a friend who loves to ride a bike. He doesn’t take a ride around the block. No. When he goes on a ride, it is for 25 to 50 miles. Before he goes, he makes certain he has various items to fix his bike should something go wrong. He makes sure he has plenty of water so he doesn’t get dehydrated. When he leaves his home, he is equipped for most any need for the task before him. He is prepared. He feels confident.

Do you have that kind of confidence when it comes to following God? Ever feel inadequate? Far too many times we balk at doing what God asks us to do because we feel inept. We don’t have enough knowledge of scripture. We don’t know how to talk. We are not sure of ourselves. We don’t think anyone would listen to us. We cannot see beyond our weaknesses; so we do not act upon the call of God in our lives. We do not follow Him wherever He leads. We do not reach out to that neighbor, that group, that family member. We do not accept God’s challenge. We forego opportunity after opportunity. We keep looking unto ourselves…and we falter; we procrastinate. If this is you today, perhaps you will gain encouragement from the prayer from the writer of Hebrews. Ask God to help you receive this as your own prayer.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21.

God gives us every single thing we need to accomplish the tasks He calls us to do. God equips us. We can do everything through the strength of Christ who dwells within us. He knows our needs long before we know them. He has the supply waiting. He has the right person to aid us. He has all the wisdom we need to discern what we cannot even imagine. He has prepared the way for us. All God wants is for us to be available, willing, and humbly yielded to His guiding Spirit.

PRAYER: Lord, let us turn to You and stop looking at ourselves. How proud we are that we think we could do anything without You. Thank You for allowing us to be part of building Your kingdom. Forgive us when we fail to follow immediately when You call our name. Amen.

ANOTHER REASON FOR SHOWING MERCY

Hariette Petersen — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:43:04 +0000

I stopped at the stop sign and looked both ways before I pulled out in front of a police cruiser coming toward the intersection. I made it across the intersection and, truthfully, had plenty of time to spare. But I just knew that officer was going to stop me, so I pulled over to the side of the road and stopped, pulled out my driver’s license and rolled down my window. He asked to see proof of insurance, then wanted to know if I thought he should let me go with a verbal warning. I said, that would be nice. I explained I was just on my way to the Dollar Store down the street. He asked where I worked. I said, “I’m a homemaker, I live four houses back down this street.”

He informed me that if he’d T-boned me, the ticket would have been 250.00 dollars. I gasped. “Which would be worse, a ticket or being T-boned?” I answered, “being T-boned.” He asked me what I would do, if I were him. I said, “I guess I’d give me a ticket, but I sure do hope you show me mercy.”

He stood there looking at my license; I figured he was trying to decide if a 62-year-old lady could afford a ticket. He stood there at least another minute, then handed my license back and said, “Go on to the Dollar Store; and drive carefully.” I can’t begin to explain the depth of relief that filled my mind when that officer let me go with a verbal warning. I literally trembled at the thought of having to pay a 250.00-dollar ticket. Just last week my husband had been given a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign long enough. It was 149.00 dollars. I needed mercy.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7

In light of this verse, I can’t help but wonder why the officer showed me mercy. Maybe he wasn’t sure if I’d stopped at the stop-sign long enough; after all, he wasn’t sitting behind me. Maybe he was going faster than the 25 MPH speed limit on that street and had a reckoning of his own. I don’t know. But this verse seems to speak to our situation–whatever reason he had for showing me mercy. Perhaps, somewhere in the past few days I’ve shown someone some undeserved mercy. I don’t know if I have or not. But I do know that I experienced mercy today and feel a desire to show mercy to others as a result. I never really looked at this verse in quite the same way as I do now. I have to ask myself, how merciful am I to others? Could I be more merciful? Could I allow for another to make mistakes and not be upset with them? This verse gives ample reason to do so, don’t you think?

PRAYER: Lord, keep us ever mindful of the new mercies You show us each day. When we are wronged, help us show the mercy we are given through You.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE LORD?

Hariette Petersen — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 01:05:29 +0000

I pulled into a parking space at Wal-mart. An elderly lady–more elderly than I–stood next to her open trunk and was laboriously lifting her purchases from her shopping cart and placing them into her trunk. Just as I swung open my door, another lady appeared. She was on her way into the store, but she stopped to offer the elderly lady assistance. “Can I help you with those?” she offered as she simultaneously lifted the bags and placed them carefully into the lady’s trunk. The lady was thrilled to have the help; she even said, “I wish I could take you home with me.” The Samaritan lady said, she would gladly do that if she didn’t have to get back to the office.

“She has done a good work for Me.” Mark 14:6

I thought about that kind, unselfish act. She only had a few minutes and would have to return to work, but she took time to help the other lady in the 108-degree Oklahoma heat. As hot as it was, most of us think about how fast we can get from our air-conditioned cars to the air-conditioned store. I thought how pleased Jesus would be of her random act of kindness. How often do we even see the plight of another as we go about our day? Do we even consider stopping to help someone like that? Do we ever see those kindnesses as doing a “good work for” Jesus? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we did?

Some people may not see our acts as our Lord does. In the passage today, folks were grumbling about how Mary had wasted the perfume to wash Jesus’ feet. The scoffer’s grumbled that it was worth a year’s wages and could have been spent to feed the poor. But Jesus defended Mary’s act of love and selflessness. He said as long as the gospel message is told, she would be remembered for her kindness to Him.

We do not have the physical Lord present with us today. Yet, as we go about our lives, we are given many opportunities to do kind deeds. When we look beyond ourselves and do any kindness in His name, we have ”done a good work for” Him.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for sacrificing all so we might live eternally with You. Thank you for the opportunity You give us to serve You by helping others. Let us never be so busy we cannot stop and do acts of sacrificial kindness.

HOW TO FIND CONTENTMENT

Hariette Petersen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:02:15 +0000

Are you contented? Seriously, fully contented? If you are anything like me, you are looking for ways to pay your bills, juggle your schedule and satisfy eveyone within your sphere of influence. Those are normal struggles, though. It’s life in general–happens to everyone, whether or not they are Christians. However, sometimes those valleys of struggles can throw you in a tailspin of anxiety. I don’t feel very contented then. Yet contentment’s schoolhouse rests in the center of those valleys.

I’m one of those people who wants to fix everything for everyone. I want everyone to be happy. No friction. How foolish of me. When I am in one of those flurries to help another out of their ditch, relieve another of their responsibilities, I may be robbing them of their opportunity to grow in Christ, to develop character that only Christ can develop. Paul had to learn contentment. He suffered far more than I’ll ever suffer–shipwrecks, floggings, and even imprisonment for sharing the gospel. He learned to lean on Jesus. He wrote:

“…for I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am.” Philippians 4:11b

We each have wants, desires, and battles. We each face trials and what seems impossible situations. My burdens may be heavier, or lighter, than yours today. I am learning more and more that it’s not my responsibility to fix anyone but myself. I am reminded of that fact quite often. I see my grandchildren struggling with events in their lives and want to remove their burdens. It’s normal to want to protect them. But I believe wants me to learn to be content in the fact that He has a purpose for some of those difficulties.

As Christians we are not exempt from difficulty. In fact, we better than anyone should recognize our trials as stepping stones to virtue. We grow from our trials–faith is increased, patience is developed. Contentment is learned. Contentment is overwhelming peace that life is okay–just as it is. That God is in control–all the time. That the world will continue to turn without a push or shove from me. Do you have that contentment? To find contentment, we must be willing to learn. Are you willing?

PRAYER: Lord, help us learn to trust You in our trials of discontent. Show us how available You are to us. Keep us ever mindful of Your presence in the midst of difficulty. Let us be joyful, like Your servant, Paul, in learning to be content with and without.

Satisfaction Without God?

Chris Roberts — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:51:25 +0000

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Revelation 21:3

Ask yourself this question: if God was not in Heaven, would you still consider it paradise? In Revelation 21:3 we are told that God will make his dwelling place with man, but what if he didn’t? Would you be satisfied throughout eternity if you were able to have food, comfort, and peace, but not God?

How you answer that question reveals how you understand your life’s purpose. We were not created for food or for comfort or for peace or for any other thing. We might enjoy them, but they are not the purpose and goal of our lives. We were created for God – to enjoy him, to glorify him, and to be children of his love and grace.

I wonder how many people claim to follow God out of a desire to receive his benefits rather than a desire to receive him. But we were created for him, we need to live for him. We need to fix him at the center of our affections, the center of our desire, the center of our delight. We enjoy the blessings of life because we know they come from God. We will enjoy the peace and delights of Heaven because God will be with us. So delight in the Lord even now. Rest in him now. Glorify him now. He is your life’s purpose, both now and in eternity.

Make a Joyful Noise

Chris Roberts — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:40:59 +0000

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 100:1-2

Psalm 100 is one of the shorter Psalms but it contains marvelous reminders of the goodness of the Lord. It begins with a call to praise, to make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! We are to be people who enjoy the Lord, who have his praise always on our lips (Ps 34:1). We are to serve him not as reluctant servants but as joyful children, glad to do the will of our Father.

The Psalmist tells us why these things should be: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. He is the creator of all. We worship and enjoy the one who made us and has called us to be his people. We are his sheep. His pasture is rich and nourishing, providing comfort and safety and the delightful presence of the good shepherd.

We are to enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! How often are we sour and dour when we gather to praise God? We must use even our emotions to the glory of God, approaching him with joy and gladness. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and praise! Thank the Lord and bless him!

Remember that the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. He will never leave you nor forsake you. His love is steadfast and unending. He will be faithful to all generations of those who are his children. You people of God, make a joyful noise to the Lord!

It Takes Faith to Sacrifice

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:13:26 +0000

My granddaughter set up a lemonade stand and raised ten dollars. Her mom and dad taught her that because God helped her make the money by bringing her customers, she needed to thank God by giving Him a tithe, which was one dollar of her earnings. Then she had to give back a portion to pay for her supplies, and to save a dollar in her money jar in case she wanted something big. She was excited that she got to give God money. She decided to give God two dollars. She believed that if she had another lemonade stand, God would just give her more money. I’m sure He would, too. But her faith was not in the fact that she was giving God money. It was in the fact that God provided for her. She was thrilled she still had four dollars to spend any way she wanted.

This was only the beginning of her lessons in giving back to God–to having a heart filled with gratitude. We know she will learn to sacrifice her time, too. She’ll learn to use her gifts in His service. We will help her see the joy in being a Christian and a child of God. She’ll learn to trust Him in everything. As we teach our children and grandchildren, so often we learn more than them, when it comes to giving of ourselves.

Christians go to church and share a portion of their earnings to honor God and help their local church. Others give a tithe of all they make. Still others give a tithe and more to help send missionaries around the world to spread the gospel message. But how much do we truly sacrifice?

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” Hebrews 11:4

What lesson of faith does Abel and Cain give us about sacrifice? Abel’s faith was counted as righteous, while Cain’s offering brought upon him God’s condemnation. It’s all about attitude and heart, isn’t it?

Anyone can give something. Anyone can offer God a portion of what they have. But it takes true faith to give God the first of what we have and depend upon Him to continue to supply more to us to meet our needs. Only by faith can we offer an offering worthy for God. Abel offered the better sacrifice–the blood sacrifice. He gave the best of what God had provided him. God gives us the best of Himself. He sacrificed His only begotten son so we could have everlasting life. His blood was shed as payment for our sin. He gave His all. This is what God wants from me. All of me. He wants my complete surrender to Him. He wants me totally and completely dependent upon Him for all my needs. This kind of faith is the only worthy sacrifice…in Him do I trust my going out and coming in.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son. Thank You for life and provision and the benefits of your grace. Thank You for the lessons of faith given in Your word. May our faith be increased as a result of what we learn from them.

Living for the King

Chris Roberts — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:31:24 +0000

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

Which is more powerful, the message of the cross or the message of the good life? Which leads to a better end, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross or the pursuit of the American dream? The world thinks we are foolish for clinging to Christ. We know the world is futile for clinging to materialism. This world is not our home, and Jesus has gone to prepare for us an eternal dwelling.

If the power of God is given to us through the gospel, why do we often live as though this world held our hope? If our reward is with Christ in eternity, why do the lives of so many believers seem to show that even Christians live for this world? We hold our faith at a distance, claiming to believe the promises of God yet hedging our bets by pursuing those things the world says are our due. But we can’t have it both ways. Similar to what Jesus says, you cannot serve God and the things of the world, Matthew 6:24.

Let your life reveal your belief and trust in the promises of God. Live passionately for the glory of God, spreading his gospel wherever you go. Be committed to helping the least of these as Jesus commands in Matthew 25:31-46. If you have worldly goods, use them to the glory of God. He is your king. Your stuff will someday burn to ash but your life with God will last forever.